Articles in Anchorage
Dance in the Streets and Increase the Beat: New Steps Forward for Pridefest 2013
[Written by Heather Aronno – Originally published at the Alaska Commons on June 7, 2013]
On the eve of the beginning of Alaska Pridefest, Anne Marie Moylan is one proud mama. Her daughter, Kate Lanier-Moylan, was just awarded a scholarship from the Pride Foundation, along with Christopher Dietrich. Pride Foundation is a philanthropic organization that lends support to LGBT causes in the northwestern part of the Lower 48 and Alaska. Moylan is also proud of the work she’s put in to this year’s Pridefest, along with her three co-chairs, or as they call themselves: quad-chairs.
Pridefest is an annual event comprising a week of activities for families, youth, elders, and everyone in between. Festivities begin this year with the Town Square Kick-Off, a family-friendly celebration featuring live music by Agents of Karma.
Representatives from every Pridefest event have been invited to speak briefly about what will be happening over the next week in order to give attendees a preview and a chance to find out more details.
And what a week!
This year’s Pridefest features events ranging from a luau at The Raven to hiking to a film festival to Drag Queen Bingo. One of the biggest events (and probably the most familiar to the casual celebrant) is a parade that wraps around downtown Anchorage and ends at the Delaney Parkstrip, where participants celebrate with food, music,and sampling the wares from the various vendor booths.
But this year, things are going to be a little different: instead of a parade with floats, vehicles and banners, this year will have a “Celebrating Diversity March.” And, Moylan says, a little bit of a dance party.
“Specifically, we’re going to have a dance party that takes us from a perspective of when the gay movement was quiet, and I’m talking ‘disco quiet.’ When people were going to clubs in big cities and they were dancing in lieu of being found out, to the point of now, where actually, we’re the one’s who have the hippest, trendiest music. You got to a gay club because it’s the place to go.
And now we’re going to actually turn this corner to increase the beat. We’re going to move to electronica, to rap, to a perspective of youth and their involvement. That has changed musically, as well as the perspective of the whole movement. So we put it together and, culturally, there is a shift. And we’re going to present all of it on that Saturday.”
Drew Phoenix, also a co-chair of Identity, Inc. and one of the other Pridefest quad-chairs, points out that a march is also more accessible than a parade.
“This is for everybody, no matter who you are. And also, I think, much more inclusive of allies…Part of it was sort of going back to our roots as a political movement. A march is more of a movement than a parade, which is more spectator participant.”
Moylan describes the scene from last year’s parade, where at first she says she did see many spectators. However, as the parade wrapped around the parkstrip, she realized that the parade seemed longer than usual. And then she realized that the “pockets of emptiness” she was seeing on the sidewalk was because people were getting up and joining the parade.
“I said, ‘this is remarkable! Well, no wonder there’s nobody watching. People are in the parade!’ So why not really transform this and make it much more emotional and more hip?”
In a way, by bucking the tradition of the parade, this year’s Pridefest is returning to its roots and embracing an older tradition of activism and inclusion.
According to Phoenix, this year’s Pridefest also marks a positive step forward in terms of local business participation as sponsors or vendors.
“We have over 60 vendors for the Pridefest [on Saturday, June 15], which is phenomenal. I think businesses see our economic power, and are taking note and getting involved. Which is big. Brand new.”
While both organizers acknowledge that Pride festivities may not mean the same thing to every participant, Moylan says that she hopes people will give themselves the chance to take part in the festivities.
“It’s not for me to define another human being or their sexuality. It’s not for me to define what kind of a good time they’re going to have at this event. I couldn’t say ‘for you it’s political’ or ‘for you it’s emotional,’ I could only say that ‘it will affect you deeply. It will move you in a way that you will forever be changed, and will mark that point as a turning ground, for what you felt was a positive shift in Anchorage, Alaska.’”
Pridefest events start on Saturday, June 8 and run through Sunday, June 16. For a full schedule and list of sponsors, go to the event website: alaskapride.org.
Light the Way to Justice: Tuesday, March 26 in Anchorage
United for marriage: Light the way to justice. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26–27, in two cases about freedom to marry. Please join us on Tuesday, March 26, at the federal courthouse in Anchorage (7th & C) in a circle united for equality.
“Pariah” screening & discussion at UAA Friday, Nov. 2
Pariah, a critically acclaimed film about a 17-year-old African-American woman embracing her lesbian identity, will screen at UAA on Friday, November 2, and will be followed by a discussion on acceptance in honor of Mya Dale. The event is free and open to the public.
Acceptance: An alternative approach to suicide intervention, at Alaska Pride Conference 2012
“Acceptance: An Alternative Approach to Suicide Intervention” comprises two workshops at Alaska Pride Conference 2012 on Saturday, October 6, part of the “Acceptance” series of discussions in honor of Mya Dale.
First Friday: Love is Love at Tref.Punkt Studio
Alaska Pride Conference 2012 kicks off on October 5 with a First Friday showing at Tref.Punkt Studio of Love is Love, a photographic exhibit of LGBT couples from across the state.
Alaska Pride Conference & Youth Summit 2012: October 5-7 in Anchorage
Alaska Pride Conference 2012 will be held October 5-7 in Anchorage at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel. The second annual Alaska statewide GLBT Youth Summit (Alaska youth 13-18) focusing on youth issues in Alaska is being held in conjunction with the Pride Conference at St. John United Methodist Church & at the Millennium Alaska Hotel.
Lambda Legal seeks survivor benefits for lesbian partner of Alaska shooting victim
On October 29, 2011, Kerry Fadely was murdered at her workplace, the Millenium Alaskan Hotel in Anchorage. Today, Lambda Legal filed a legal challenge seeking survivor benefits for Kerry’s partner of 10 years, Debbie Harris.
Enchanted Forest, a 19+ electro-dance night at the Kodiak — Friday, August 30
The Kodiak Bar & Grill presents Enchanted Forest, a night of electro-dance, starting 10 PM on Friday, August 31, and lasting through the wee hours of Saturday morning. This is a drug and alcohol-free event for ages 19 and over (bring ID).
Rage City Rollergirls present “Derby, Baby!” at Bear Tooth — Thursday, August 30
Rage City Rollergirls presents “Derby, Baby!” — an indie film about derby addiction and love on the flat track — tonight, Thursday, August 30 at the Bear Tooth. The screening is accompanied by a pre-show reception and post-show Q&A with local skaters.
Alaska Pride Conference 2012: Call for workshops
Identity is seeking presenters for Alaska Pride Conference 2012, to be held Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Millennium Alaskan Hotel in Anchorage. The deadline for workshop applications is September 4.
